The National tribune., 1887-09-22

for pensions.
THE RUSSIAN SYSTEM.
In the Russian system retirement to all off,
GERS is allowed after % years of faithful
service. on halfpay, and after 80 years, on full
pay. An officer retired on account of perma-
nent ill-health is entitled to pension of one
third of his salary after 10 years of service,
and to two-thirds of his salary after 20 years,
and TO the full amount after 80 years.
Any officer or employe having contracted an
incurable disease. such as paralysis, insanity,
or blindness, is entitled on retirement to one
third OF his salary after five years Of service,
to two-thirds after 10 years Of service, and to
the full amount after 20 years of service.
The pension of retired officer ceases. first,
when he re-enters the Government service;
second, when he enters without permission the
service of foreign Government, and third, if
he remain abroad for over five years without
special permission.
Pensions are granted to widows and children
of deceased officers. Widows pension termi-
mates by death, remarriage, entering a monas-
tery, or by judgment of a court of law. The
widows rate is one-half of that of her deceased
husband, and one-half of the remaining one
third to each child of a pensionable age, up to
the total amount. The pensionable age ceases
with girls at Is and with boys ut 81. Children
under these ages are entitled to pension if not
supported in educational institutions, provided
the girl does not marry. The proportion OF
pension to each minor is one fourth of that of
the father, or the total amount among the
entire family.
In cases of an incurable disease rendering
children unable to support themselves they
retain their pension until death.
Three grand divisions of wounded officers
are made, the first and second classes of which
receive as pension the full amount of pay with
out regard to length of service. To carefully
look after these wounded men, there is ap-
pointed by the Empire special permanent
committee to better provide for wounded Off
GERS. for their families, and their interests.
This committee extends its care to all COM
missioned and non commissioned officers of the
army and navy who have received wounds or
injuries in battle, or, in general, in carrying
out the different dsties connected with the
service, and also to the surviving families or
children of officers, provided such officers have
not adequate means of subsistence. General
is regarded as having adequate means if he
have 10000 rubles, or the equivalent thereof
Any other officer, if he has one-half this
amount.
The amount fpensions paid TO commissioned
officers ranges in the first rank from 300 to ,716
rubles, the first being for an Ensign or COrnet,
and the last being for an officer of the rank of
General. Their families receive for the same
grades from 125 to ,l43 rubles. The widow ofan
officer killed in war is entitled TO the full
amount of her husbands pension; and in case
of her death, the children. The wounded
soldiers committee, in default of both widow
and children, may grant the pension to the
deceased officers parents, or to his brothers and
sisters rs long as they are minors.
Non-cOmmissiOned officers and privates,
wounded i'll war or in time of peace in the
fulfilment of the duties of the service, are en-
titled to pension from the invalid fund in
various sums ranging from 14.2S to 57l5 ru-
bles.
The pension system in Russia seems to be
rather in the nature Of a mutual insurance COM
pany operation. The fund was established in
1859 by donation from the imperial treasury
OF 100000 rubles. All the benefciaries legal
and possible of this fund were from thence
forth assessed per cent per annum on the
amounts Of their salaries until the date of the
first payment OF pension, which began about
the year 1865 The fund had then increased TO
100000 rubles. In 1850 the principal of the
fund reached the sum of 6S,0OOOO0 of rubles.
The number of benefciaries ii will be seen is
very small.
Statistics and facts are lacking as to the other
branch OF the original pension system. 1t con-
sists Of grants made probably at the will OF the
Car from the military treasury. which cannot
be calculated and which are not tabulated.
There seems to be no other pension system
in operation in Russia.
THE ITALIAN AND TURKISH SYSTEMS.
There are no striking features in the Italian
aud Turkish systems. Its main features are
largely like those of other continental nations,
and are based upon the same considerations |;
first, of service, and second, of disability.
THE CHINESE SYSTEM.
The most complicated and minutely detailed
system for the granting of pensions is that of
the Empire Of China, which still retains in
force orders, regulations and statutes dating
from the first part of the 18th century, with
amendments as late az the first quarter of the
10Th century. AS in the cases of other nations,
the pension is for both services and disability.
The service age is fixed at so years. The
amount of pension depends not only upon the
service, but upon the quality of the service and
the character and degree Of peril TO which ex-
posed during service. If a man was in the
army and disabled but not in active campaign
ing, in many instances he would be entitled
simply to the preservation of the rank that he
may have attained. but would not be granted
pay or a pension. In some instances if a man
has sons or a son in the imperial service his
support devolve5 upon them and pension is not
allowed. Divisions are made of wounded SOL
diers into classes according to the length of
time assigned for recovery. Five such classes
have been created: Wounds are known as first
class, second class, third class, etc. For a con-
siderable time differences were made in the
amount OF pensions TO be allowed for wounds
made by spent cannOn-balls. Gratuities were
given account of wounds suffered in the
service by the regular attendants of the men,
bers of the Banner Corps, sO-called. Sacrifices
and the sacred rites of religion were to be per-
formed at the graves of militia men leaving no
heirs. A difference was made in losses to ma
rines and soldiers of the Coast Guard exposed
to peril in the outer and in the inner seas, the
frontier service being regarded as more honor
able. Under certain circumstances provisions
are made for the widow aud for the son of q
soldier killed in the service. Those who served
and were killed or disabled in the front ranks
are regarded with distinguished consideration.
Those who suffered disablement in what may
be called tho subordinate services" such as
guard duty or train-guard duty, who were in
the rear of an army and in positions less ex-
posed to the actual dangers of war receive cor
respOndingy less. and the pension system is
made prOlOngation and continuance of the re-
wards offered for valor and honorable service
in battle.
The military forces of the Empire are COM
posed, first, of the Eighth and Manchu Banner
Corps; second, the Army Of the Green Stand
ard or Chinese provincial forces; and third,
the irreEulars, or Braves.
All descendants of the Mongolian and Chi
nese sOldiery of the conquest are enrolled in
the Eighth and Manchu Banner Corps
The Army of the Green Standard is en-
plOyed to garrison strategical points through
out the provinces, to act as custodians of the
treasury, granaries, gaOls, to escort prisoners
of war, TO convoy treasures, and TO perform
other miscellaneous duties. The pensions given
vary according to which of these great corps